Asperger’s Syndrome: Why Birthdays are Bittersweet

A mom whose 19-year-old son has Asperger’s Syndrome looks back on his birthdays past, remembering early ones with little boys and later ones that were bittersweet.

My heart both rejoices and breaks every year when we celebrate my firstborn’s birthday.

I rejoice when I think back to my son’s earlier birthdays when he was about 4 or 5 years old. Each year he’d pick a new theme for his birthday party, reflecting his current favorite passions. One year, he loved Blue’s Clues. Another year, trains...